Process of curing kelp.



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PROCESS OF CURING KELP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 13, 1916.

No Drawing. Application filed June 18, 1914, Serial No. 845,980. IRenewed March 31, 1916. Serial No. 88,171.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES R. KLINGEN-slurrrr, a citizen of the United States of America, residing atTarentum, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of CuringKelp, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a. process of ouring kelp, and has for itsobject to provide a process in a manner as hereinafter set forth, forcuring kelp for commercial usages.

Kelp is a marine plant and found in various places principally in thePacific Ocean. There are many species of kelp but the bull kelp is theone that is the main source of supply for manufacturing purposes. Bullkelp when green is transparent and in substance is much similar to amelon and contains ninety per cent. water. The curing in accordance withthis invention, of the kelp is carried out as follows :-The kelp isfirst dried until it is incrusted with a crystal-like formationresembling salt, and after reaching such state is immersed in freshwater where it is allowed to soak for about twelve hours after which itis taken out and dried. After being thoroughly dried, it is thenimmersed in an alkaline solution for twelve hours. Preferably thesolution is fresh water and soda and the proportions are one pound ofsoda to fifty gallons of water. After being soaked for about twelvehours in the alkaline solution, the kelp is removed and thoroughly driedand cured for one week, after which it is again immersed in fresh waterfor twelve hours. The kelp is then removed from the fresh water bath andthen partly dried and the complete drying is bad by exposing the kelp tosulfur fumes. The kelp is then ready for the finishing step whichconsists of soaking in fresh water until soft, after which it is openedup and soaked in a solution of fresh water and glyc- Gopiee of thinpatent may be obtained for erin (proportions half and half), and thenremoved from the solution of water and glycerin and hung up to dry afterwhich it is ready for the market.

What I claim is 1. A process of curing kelp which consists in drying thekelp in a green state until it becomes incrusted with the crystal-likeformation, then submitting the same to a fresh water bath, then removingfrom the bath and drying, then submitting the dried kelp to an alkalinebath, then removing and drying, then submitting the dried kelp to awater bath, then partially drying, then completing the drying operationby submitting the partially dried kelp to sulfur fumes, then softeningthe dried kelp, then opening up the kelp and subn'iitting it to a. bathof water and glycerin, and then removing and drying the kelp.

2. A. process of curing kelp consisting in drying green kelp until it isincrusted with a crystal-like formation, then submitting the same to awater bath, and then drying, then submitting the same to an alkalinebath and then drying, then submitting the same to a water bath anddrying by sulfur fumes, and then submitting the material to a bath ofwater and glycerin and then removing and drying.

3. A process of curing kelp consisting in drying the green kelp until itis inc-rusted with a crystal-like formation, then immersing theincrusted kelp in a fresh water bath,-

then successively drying the kelp, immersing it in a bath of fresh waterand soda, drying it, immersing it in a fresh water bath, drying it,softening it, subjecting it to a solution of fresh water and glycerinand drying.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES R. KLINGENSMITH. Witnesses:

MAX H. Snonovrrz, MARIE H. ZBIERAJ.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Paton Washington, D.G. i

